Vehicle Upgrades — Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Guide
While Grand Theft Auto: Vice City doesn't feature the extensive customization found in later installments, certain vehicles can be upgraded to improve their performance and appearance. This guide will detail the available vehicle upgrades, where to find the necessary garages, and the benefits these enhancements offer to Tommy Vercetti's arsenal of automobiles.
In the world of Vice City, a souped-up ride can be the difference between a successful getaway and a police roadblock. While not every car can be modified, specific garages offer a range of upgrades that can boost your vehicle's speed, acceleration, and handling. Learn how to turn your ordinary car into a high-performance machine.
- Performance Upgrades: These typically include engine tuning, which increases acceleration and top speed, and suspension improvements, which enhance handling and cornering.
- Cosmetic Upgrades: While less impactful on gameplay, these can include custom paint jobs, allowing you to change the color of your vehicle, and sometimes unique body kits or spoilers.
- Repair and Repaint: The Pay 'n' Spray garages are essential for both repairing damage and changing your vehicle's color, which can help evade police pursuit.
Where to Find Garages:
- Pay 'n' Spray Garages: These are the most common type of vehicle modification shop. They are marked on your mini-map with a spray can icon. There are several Pay 'n' Spray locations scattered across Vice City, including:
- Downtown
- Ocean Beach
- Little Havana
- Vice Point
- Unique Vehicle Garages: Certain unique vehicles, like those obtained from specific missions or found in hidden locations, can sometimes be upgraded at specific garages. For example, the "Sunshine Autos" car dealership in Vice Point offers a place to store and potentially upgrade some of your collected vehicles.
Types of Upgrades and Their Effects:
The primary upgrades available at Pay 'n' Spray locations are paint jobs and repairs. By driving into the desated bay, you can choose from several colors to repaint your vehicle. This is crucial for losing wanted levels, as a freshly painted car is harder for the police to identify. Repairs are also automatically performed when you use the Pay 'n' Spray, fixing any damage your vehicle has sustained.
While Vice City doesn't have the deep tuning options of later games, the ability to repair and repaint is vital. For missions requiring stealth or evasion, a quick trip to the Pay 'n' Spray can be a lifesaver. Remember that some vehicles are inherently faster or handle better than others, so even with upgrades, your choice of vehicle still matters sificantly.